Diary of a witch

WHO IS SHE?

Hecate is a Goddess of magic and witchcraft, as well as the guardian of boundaries and crossings. She is often depicted as a triple-headed woman, representing her role as a gatekeeper between realms. Hecate is a powerful and mysterious Goddess, and she is often associated with the moon, the night, and the Underworld. She is also known for her connection to the spirits of the dead, and she is revered as a protector of orphans and wayfarers. As the Goddess of magic and witchcraft, she is also an expert in magic, astrology, and other arcane arts.

BASIC INFO:

Appearance: Hecate is traditionally depicted as a tall and powerful woman with a distinctive appearance. She is often portrayed as having three heads, each with different facial features, such as eyes of different colours or expressions. She is also described as having black hair and wearing a dark cloak, which further lends to her mysterious and dark appearance. In some depictions, she was said to carry a torch, a crescent moon, and a key, which is a symbol of her power over the boundaries between life and death.

Personality: Hecate is a complex and multi-faceted deity, representing the trinity of magic, knowledge and wisdom, as well as the boundaries between life and death. Her personality reflects that complexity and is a combination of contradictory traits, embodying both dark and mysterious aspects, as reflected by her position as Goddess of the Underworld, while also being a bright and benevolent figure, representing light and wisdom. She is often depicted as a three-headed woman, symbolizing her association with the crossroads and the triad of magic that she encapsulates.

Symbols: paired torches, keys, crossroads, dark/triple moon, wheel, dagger, rope, dogs, serpents, knives, and strophalos

Goddess of: Witchcraft, necromancy, ghosts, the night, boundaries, and crossroads

Culture: Greek

Plants and trees: asphodel, mugwort, lavender, rue, garlic, yew, cypress, aconite (also called hecateis), belladonna, dittany, mandrake, mint, sage, laurel, and cedar

Crystals: amethyst, obsidian, tiger’s eye, jade, black tourmaline, labradorite, serpentine, moonstone, onyx, and ametrine

Animals: dog, mare, serpent, cat, bats, and polecat

Incense: frankincense, rosemary, myrrh, and patchouli

Colours: black, grey, silver, gold, violet, green, red, and white

Tarot: The High Priestess, The Hermit, The Moon, and Queen of Pentacles

Planets: Mercury, Moon, and Mars

Days: Thursday, Wednesday evenings (new moon celebrations are typically held on Wednesday evenings), Tuesday, the full moon, Samhain (Oct 31st), and the new moon

Parents: Perses and Asteria

Siblings: none known

Partner: Apollo and Mormo

Children: Empusa and Scylla

MISC:

• The triple moon: which represents the phases of the moon and balance between the material and the spiritual, as well as the duality of light and darkness.

• Keys: which represents power and knowledge and can be used to unlock doors and paths to knowledge and power that are hidden or restricted.

• Torches: which represents guidance and illumination in dark times or when clarity is needed.

• Wolves: Hecate is sometimes depicted with three heads, which is one reason she is often associated with wolves. Wolves also symbolize strength, loyalty, and protection and can be a natural source of inspiration for your prayers or rituals.

• Black cats: commonly associated with Hecate, mostly due to her connection to the Underworld. Black cats represent protection and wisdom, and they can be an excellent source of inspiration for your prayers or rituals.

• The triune Goddess: which represents the trio of maiden, mother, and crone and the power of the feminine.

• Crossroads: where people would often seek wisdom from Hecate when they faced difficulties or had questions.

• Magic, occultism, and witchcraft: as Hecate is the Goddess of magic and spells, and she is often invoked during rituals and magickal practices.

FACTS ABOUT HECATE:

• Name: the name Hecate comes from the Greek word "ekatid," which means "the one who has power over the road."

• Relationships: Hecate is associated with the night, the Underworld, the moon, and the spirit world. She is also connected to Demeter and Persephone, both of whom are associated with the fertility of the cycle of life and death.

• Symbols: the symbols of Hecate include a three-headed dog, a key, and a torch.

• Role: Hecate is a mysterious and powerful Goddess associated with sorcery and magic, often depicted as a triple-headed or triple-bodied figure.

• Associations: Hecate is often associated with crossroads, magic, prophecy, mystery, spirits, night, ghosts, and the Underworld, serving as a protector and guide for those who have died. She is also the patron deity of witches and magic-users, and is also associated with the night.

• History: Hecate is a minor deity in Greek mythology, but she has become a prevalent figure in modern times. Hecate's origins are linked to the Greek Underworld and the female deity Selene, and she is also connected to the Roman goddesses Artemis and Diana.

• Role in Witchcraft: Hecate is widely associated with magic and witchcraft, and many witches and Wiccans revere her as a source of power and knowledge. Some witch traditions worship Hecate as a three-way Goddess who represents the past, present, and future.

HOW TO WORSHIP HECATE:

To worship Hecate respectfully, you should approach her with a sense of reverence and respect. She is a powerful Goddess and should be treated as such. You can offer prayers, libations, and offerings to her, and it's important to speak to her in a respectful manner, as you would to any other person of authority. Hecate has a strong connection to magic and the Underworld, so you can also use magic or other rituals to communicate with her. It's important to have an open mind and a respectful attitude when approaching Hecate and seeking her guidance.

HOW TO START A PRAYER FOR HECATE:

To begin, you could address her by name and say something along the lines of:

"Oh Great Goddess Hecate, I come to you seeking your guidance and wisdom. I offer myself to you, my heart and my spirit, and I ask for your blessing in this prayer."

"I thank you, great Goddess Hecate, for listening to my words and for your guidance and protection. May you walk by my side always. Hail Hecate.”

CAN I CONTACT HECATE AT A CROSSROAD?

Yes, it is possible to contact Hecate at a crossroads. This is a traditional method of invoking the Goddess that has been used for centuries. To do this, you should prepare a offering (bread, honey, and herbs, or any other items that you feel would be suitable for her) and then go to a crossroads during the witching hour between 12 a.m. and 3 a.m. Place your offering under the crossroads sign and say a prayer to invoke Hecate. Speak with sincerity and humility, and ask for guidance and aid in whatever aspect of your life you feel most in need of support. Remember to listen for signs and messages that Hecate may bring you.

WHAT ARE SIGNS THAT HECATE WANTS ME TO WORK WITH HER?

• Feeling drawn toward witchcraft, magic, or spiritual practices

• Seeing her symbols, such as the moon, keys, dogs, etc.

• Feeling a connection to animals, nature, or the Underworld

• Feeling a pull towards the crossroads or areas with a strong sense of the occult

• Having vivid dreams or visions in which she appears or speaks directly to you.

• Seeing or feeling her energies in your environment

• The number 13 keeps popping up everywhere

• You hear dogs howling at night from nowhere

• Hecate’s symbols are repeating: the key, crossroads, torch, dagger, Hecate’s wheel

• You’re drawn to graveyards and cemeteries

• You’ve had a spiritual experience (either positive or terrifying) at a crossroads in the woods

• You’re new to the craft and need guidance but don’t know who to turn to

• Hecate comes into witches’ lives who are pregnant and dying (during major transitions in life)

• You’re seeing a white dog(s) everywhere you go (in real life or on TV, etc.)

• Hecate’s name keeps showing up in your daily life (in random conversations, books, TV shows, online, etc.)

• You love working with animals, in particular dogs

• Stray dogs tend to find you and want you to take them in

• You were born under a Dark Moon or on Hecate Night

• Spirits communicate with you and have your entire life

HOW CAN I TELL IF HECATE WANTS TO WORK WITH ME?

If your request to work with Hecate has been accepted, you may notice the following signs:

• Feeling a strong connection to her energy and presence

• Having vivid dreams or visions related to her

• Experiencing a strong intuition and getting signs or symbols that relate to her

• Feeling a sense of strength, protection, or guidance.

If your request to work with Hecate has not been accepted, you may notice the following signs:

• Getting a strong impression or intuition that she is not interested in working with you.

• Getting a reading or divination that indicates Hecate is not willing to work with you at this time.

• Feeling a strong resistance or dissonance when you attempt to connect with her or her energies.


Overall you need to be respectful of deities denying your request.

OFFERINGS:

• Fire

• Three-headed candles

• Bones or skulls

• Poetry

• Chanting

• Herbs and flowers

• Food and drinks: such as grapes, almonds, garlic, red meat, water, milk, eggs, fruit, dishes with garlic, sweets that are crescent-shaped, pomegranates, dark chocolate, red wine, bread, and honey

• Painting

• Dancing

• Incense

• Olive oil

• Wands

• Keys

• A cauldron

• Crow feathers

DEVOTIONAL ACTS FOR HECATE:

• Respect the boundaries of others and yourself

• Practice self-love and self-compassion

• Take care of yourself physically, mentally, and spiritually

• Cultivate an open mind and open heart

• Follow your instincts and trust in your guidance

• Nurture friendships and relationships that are healthy and beneficial

• Learn to balance pleasure and work

• Live each day with purpose and intention.

• Doings Things in 13’s: offer thirteen flowers to her, give elaborate offerings or do ritual on the thirteenth of each month in her name, say your prayers thirteen times, etc

• Take care of our canine friends, do so in Hecate’s name. She will bless you AND your dogs or any dogs you care for. If you can’t have a dog, donate your time OR old blankets, dog food, etc. to a local animal shelter. And tell Hecate you’re doing it in her name. This doesn’t just go for dogs, but for any kind of canine species.

• Doing spirit work in the cemetery

IS IT SAFE TO EAT OR DRINK AN OFFERING I GIVE TO HER?

Lucky color of March 27, 2024

Creeks & streams: Purification, harmony, cleansing

Dew: General health, eyesight, beauty. powertul if gathered at dawn on Beltane.

Ice: Transformations, balance, creativity

Lake water: Peace, contentment, relaxation, self-reflection.

River water: Cleansing, moving forward, protection

Snow: Transformations, balance

Spring water: Growth, holy water, cleansing, protection, prosperity

Swamp & waste water: Banishing, binding

Waterfalls: Power, energy, success

Well water: Healing, wishes, intuition

Beaches: Rituals, spells, fascinations, meditations

Rain water: Energy, protection, cleansing.

I was hesitant to share this but the entities I work with assure me that some people can benefit from reading it. Even if that benefit is pure inspiration, I think it’s worth having.

What’s a Magick Circle

Simply put, a magick circle is a casting of energy that readies a space for additional Magickal workings. Most of the time this has to do with calling forth the necessary energies you will use to empower the magick itself, like the elements for insurance, while also setting up a protective ward that banishes unwanted energy from the outside from taking effect.

Now it’s important to remember that you don’t need a magick circle to do Witchcraft but it does help. A magick circle is a powerful tool. Just as a pencil is a tool to write down a novel but a computer is a more efficient one. In this blog I will talk about the many ways to which I personally open my circle. I won’t give out my exact method word for word but I will explain the constructions of what I cast

Simple Circle

My most simplest of circles doesn’t call any energy but my own. It’s as quick as waving my wand or atheme in a clockwise motion and declaring it open, then doing the same in a counterclockwise motion and declaring it closed. The simplest of spells gets this treatment, if at all.

Complex Circle

This is my primary circle. The one I put lots of stock and time into developing. It’s not that quick to open nor is it restricted to the simplicities of traditional elements. It’s made up of not one but 4 definitive casts. Every cast has a certain number of elemental pieces within it. Each one of which maintaining a corresponding entity associated with its respective energy. Calling these entities as a power source for each individual element in this way, creates a special fortitude that empowers and strengthens my space.

(Some of the names in this list may not be recognizable to many of you. This is because these are either self made godforms, or entities from realms outside our own.)

The Outer Circle

The first piece, is the outer circle, the core energy that resonates as the building blocks for the others. It’s represented by Life, Death, Chaos & Order. The stepping stones that are reflect in all things, and are the first step in the creation of all additional energy within my practice. They are represented by the following:

⚜️ Life: Coitio

⚜️ Death: Necros

⚜️ Chaos: Yog Sothoth

⚜️ Order: Azazel

The Upper Realm

This is the top of the subsequent, “second circle” and is a reflection of the finer building blocks within energies. They are the weapons and tools that carve out the finer details of the circle that’s cast. These elements are:

⚜️ Spirit: Creator Azathoth

⚜️ Light: Lilith

⚜️ Darkness: Mi’Taal

The Lower Realm

This is the bottom of the “second circle” and is reflected in traditional energy as it’s built, broken down, and reformed. These elements are represented by the following entities:

⚜️ Earth: Shub Niggurath

⚜️ Air: Loki

⚜️ Fire: Hecate

⚜️ Water: Leviathan

The Inner Circle

This is arguably the most important circle. These Entities are my spirit council. Guides that have been with me for a long time. Trusted partners that aid me in all that I do. I will not share their names here but they represent my familiar, my void guide, my shamanic guide, and my dragon guide. Each functions in its own special way guiding the energies to a much deeper involvement within the space.

I realize this list may be extensive or even excessive to some, but I put great importance on every entity I allot to work alongside me. We communicate and form our own rules and reasoning around what elements they empower and why. Reasoning that I will not be discuss here, as it relates to some more personal parts of my practice that I would like to keep private, but I digress.

As for the overall method of casting, energy and the corresponding entities are called in turn by word of mouth as my grimoire is opened to a symbolic seal drawn within its pages. A seal that contains special sigils and other alchemical symbols within it. What exactly I say and what exactly this seal looks like are not something I’m going to share entirely online. As the complexities of this ritual and the symbols I use are a private function that only those gathered in the sacred space are privy to. It’s sacred to me and my practice, and signifies the bond I share with the otherworldly forces that I connect with.

Most of the time I need nothing but my grimoire. Since every symbol upon the seal is charged as a vessel in of itself. But on occasion I may as certain select stones or icons as needed.

In Conclusion

I hope this blog peeked your interest a little in the art of the Magickal circle. I’m aware that my method may be complicated and more unique but it’s what works for me. I found the rift that i I ride and you all should do the same. There’s no clear wrong way to develop a circle. Follow what works for you.

For all my witches out there, here's a handy list of the 2024 dates for the solstices, quarter days, full and new moons, and special events. I've listed my sources at the bottom.

Dates and times for all events are calculated for Eastern Standard Time, USA, Northern Hemisphere. Adjust for your location as needed and check the DarkSky Placefinder to see what special events will be visible in your area. Enjoy!

Solstices, Harvests, and Quarter Days

February 1-2 - Imbolc / Candlemas

March 19 - Spring Equinox / Ostara

April 30-May 1 - Beltane / May Day

June 20 - Summer Solstice / Midsummer / Litha

August 1 - Lughnasadh / Lammas / Summer Harvest

September 22 - Autumn Equinox / Mabon / Fall Harvest

October 31 - Samhain / Halloween / Final Harvest

December 21 - Winter Solstice / Yule

Full Moons

January 25 - Wolf Moon ♌

February 24 - Snow Moon ♍

March 25 - Worm Moon ♎

April 23 - Pink Moon ♏

May 23 - Flower Moon ♐

June 21 - Strawberry Moon ♑

July 21 - Thunder Moon (aka Buck Moon) ♑

August 19 - Sturgeon Moon* ♒

September 17 - Harvest Moon* ♓

October 17 - Hunter's Moon (aka Blood Moon)* ♈

November 15 - Frost Moon (or Beaver Moon)* ♉

December 15 - Cold Moon ♊

*- Supermoon

Fun Fact: The title of Harvest Moon is given to either the September or October full moon, whichever falls closest to the autumn equinox. Once again this year, that month will be September.

New Moons

January 11 ♑

February 9 ♒

March 10 ♓

April 8 ♈

May 7 ♉

June 6 ♊

July 5 ♋

August 4 ♌

September 2 ♍

October 2 ♎

November 1 ♏

December 1 ♐

December 30 (black moon) ♑

Special Celestial Events

January 3-4 - Quadrantids meteor shower peak

March 25 - Penumbral Lunar Eclipse

April 8 - Total solar eclipse

April 22-23 - Lyrids meteor shower peak

May 6-7 - Eta Aquarids meteor shower peak

August 11-13 - Perseids meteor shower peak

August 19 - Sturgeon Supermoon / Seasonal Blue Moon

September 17 - Harvest Supermoon / Penumbral Lunar Eclipse

October 2 - "Ring of Fire" solar eclipse

October 17 - Hunter's Supermoon

October 21-22 - Orionids meteor shower peak

November 15 - Frost Supermoon

November 16-17 - Leonids meteor shower peak

December 13-14 - Geminids meteor shower peak

December 30 - Black Moon

(Check the DarkSky Placefinder to see what will be visible in your area!)

Mercury Retrogrades (in case you need them)

April 1 - April 24

August 4 - August 27

November 25 - December 15

Happy Witching!

SOURCES & FURTHER READING:

Bree's Lunar Calendar Series

Bree's Secular Celebrations Series

Moon Info - Full Moon Dates for 2024

Calendar-12 - 2024 Moon Phases

Full Moonology - 2024 Full Moon Calendar

AstroStyle - All the 2024 Full Moons

Your Zodiac Sign - Astrology Calendar 2024

Old Farmer's Almanac - Mercury Retrograde Dates 2023-2024

Lonely Planet - Best Star-gazing Events of 2024

Sea and Sky - Astronomy Calendar of Celestial Events 2024

DarkSky International - Dark Sky Placefinder for Stargazing

Pagan Grimoire - Wheel of the Year: The 8 Festivals in the Wiccan Calendar (2024 Edition)

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If you're enjoying my content, please feel free to drop a little something in the tip jar or check out my published works on Amazon or in the Willow Wings Witch Shop. 😊

EDIT: Mercury is stationed direct on Jan 1st, 2024. The source I used which stated it was in retrograde until the 18th had a typo.

Here is a comprehensive collection of all of the posts I've done on the occult and the spells I've done and spell resources. This will be added to over the life of the blog as well this way everyone won't have to dig for everything. And you get to learn a bit more about my practice.

Occult & Folklore Lessons

Ars goetia 72 demons Kings

Ars Goetia 72 Demons Dukes Pt. 1

CELTIC FOLKLORE&MYTHOLOGY 101

Celtic Folklore [Fairies]

Protection From Malignant Spirits

Spells and Rituals

Exorcism

Exorcism Charms

Boundary Powder

Everlight Candles

Solarian Oil

Vincula Luna

Igni Bowls

Binding A Spirit To An Object

Malignant Spirit Binding Totem

Pseudo Moon Water

Grimoire Reading List

this is added to periodically it's free pdfs you can download

Informational Joke Posts for your pleasure